US oil refineries spewing cancer-causing benzene into communities, report finds | Air pollution

A dozen US oil refineries final 12 months exceeded the federal limit on average benzene emissions.

Among the many 12 refineries that emitted above the maximum degree for benzene, five were in Texas, 4 in Louisiana, and one every in Pennsylvania, Indiana and the US Virgin Islands, a brand new evaluation by the Environmental Integrity Challenge revealed on Thursday.

Benzene is a identified carcinogen that's extremely poisonous and risky when uncovered to air. Much of the surplus emissions come by way of leaks from valves, tanks, pumps and different means that are hard to detect.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 6.1 million individuals in the US dwell inside three miles of a refinery, with low-income folks and other people of coloration represented at rates practically twice that of the general inhabitants.

Out of 129 operable oil refineries in 2021, 118 reported benzene concentration registered at or near the positioning, in any other case known as the fence-line.

Practically half of those refineries launched benzene levels above 3 micrograms per cubic meter, which the Environmental Integrity Mission defines as a long-term potential health risk.

The EPA requires amenities to take action if they exceed a median 9 micrograms per cubic meter, or above “motion level” emission of benzene.

“If [facilities] can’t get their benzene beneath the motion stage, yr after 12 months, we actually need to see enforcement from the EPA,” stated Eric Schaeffer, the manager director of the Environmental Integrity Venture, in a press convention. “It is advisable to begin paying penalties when your fence-line ranges persist,” he added.

Lifetime publicity to benzene at levels as little as 0.13 microgram per cubic meter might cause a threat of as much as one further most cancers case for every one million uncovered, based on the EPA. The upper the extent of benzene, the higher the health threat.

Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City had the best common internet benzene ranges in 2021, according to the analysis of the self-reported data. Roughly 37,000 people live within a three-mile radius of the refinery. Amongst them, 62% are individuals of shade and 47% are low-income.

“This analysis provides important perception into why the Houston space is an industrial most cancers hotspot,” said Leticia Gutierrez of advocacy group Air Alliance Houston, on the press conference.

“Individuals dwelling close to these services have larger [exposure] to lifetime most cancers threat than every other part of the state, but the regulatory businesses liable for defending us proceed to approve permits for these facilities,” Gutierrez mentioned.

Environmental Integrity Mission notes that its evaluation did not measure concentrations of benzene within neighborhoods adjoining to refineries, and does not replicate the precise ranges of benzene within the communities.

Marathon Petroleum and the EPA did not instantly reply to a request for comment.